However there are good responses if you do buy into the concept of free will. It depends on the point the throat is making. One I hear is that God can't provide proof of himself because that would go against free will. Everyone knows that assault is a crime and you can go to jail for it. We know jail is real, we know people go there. But people still choose to commit assault. Apply this to theology, Saran knew God existed and still chose to rebel.

Or perhaps the wold has evil because free will. We got a few theists who claim god's live is earned and free will causes evil. What about babies born with horrible deformations? Babies whose entire short life is pain and suffering. What have they done for that? How about regular evil, like rapists and arsonists. Why not stop them before they do the deed? That is after they have made up their mind but before they hurt anyone? Why doesn't God see to it that a cop shows up right as the person is about to hurt someone and stop them?

Depends on what you're even talking about. First, the term has to be defined.
In Moral Theology, the idea assumes that ALL the elements of a choice are "present and reviewable" when a decision is made. That's been proven to be not the case, as well as impossible. (Google MRI scans and decision making, as well as Dr. David Eagleman's lectures on YouTube, and TED.)

At any one point in time, decisions are dependent on training, habits, personal history and physical limitations. Are theists free to flap their wings and fly ? No. There are multiple constraints on everyone, all the time. Individual decisions have been proven (by Neuro-science) to be the result of largely subconscious "wars" (which effectively ends the notion of ''free will" from Moral Theology.)

Is it possible to change one's response to certain, (even suddenly surprising) events, or make long term changes that one works out in advance and plan for. Yes.

Insufferable know-it-all. God has a plan for us. Please stop screwing it up with your prayers.

(10-01-2016 02:32 AM)jason197754 Wrote: How do you debunk an answer theists the whole issue of free will???

You don't.

They have to come up with a coherent definition before any debunking is required.

"Owl," said Rabbit shortly, "you and I have brains. The others have fluff. If there is any thinking to be done in this Forest - and when I say thinking I mean thinking - you and I must do it." - A. A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner